Mop swab

ABSTRACT

A mop construction including a plurality of absorbent mop cords secured together substantially centrally of their length in a generally bunched relationship. The cords are thus secured by a band of elastomeric material which surrounds the cords.

United States Patent 1191 Moss [4 Apr. 23, 1974 [54] MOP SWAB 2,492,232 12/1949 Martin 15/229 A 1 1 Inventor Theron Moss, 3175 ralmouth, 53321382)? 31323 fifpli iijiiij... 3131"":11: 121/1225? Shaker fights, 01110 44120 1,512,096 10/1924 Hopkinson.... 156/439 x 3 3,342,659 9/1967 Baum et al 156/296 [22] Flled 1970 2,239,686 4/1941 Owens.... 15/229 R ux [21] Appl 495 3,011,198 12/1961 Moss 15/229 R Relted Application Data Primary Examiner--Daniel Blum [63] Continuatlon of Ser. No. 757,893, Oct. 6, 1968, Attorney, Agent, or Firm D0nne]Hy Maky, Renner &

abandoned. Otto [52] US. Cl 15/229 A, 161/144, 300/21 51 Int. Cl A471 13/24 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 15/228, 229; 156/166, 296, A mop construction including a plurality of absorbent 156/436, 439; 161/143; 300/21 mop cords secured together substantially centrally of their length in a generally bunched relationship. The [56] References Cit d cords are thus secured by a band of elastomeric mate- UNITED STATES PATENTS rial which surrounds the COYdS. 3,512,203 5/1970 McClellan 15/229 A 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures *aaoaals INVENTOR THE RON l M055 MOP SWAB This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 757,893, filed Sept. 6, 1968, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally as indicated to a mop construction, and more particularly to a mop swab having a new and improved means for securing the cords together at the mid-section thereof.

Mop constructions presently known generally comprise bundles of absorbent cords or yarns secured at the mid-section thereof by a fabric band which is generally a closely woven eight or ounce cotton duck or drill stitched to the cords. The fabric band thus serves as a protective covering for the cords when the swab is connected to a handle which is usually by means of a clamp-type holding device.

Mop swabs of this type have certain disadvantages, however, due to the fabric band which is stitched to the absorbent cords. For example, when the swab becomes soiled and it is thus necessary to clean the same, it has been found that laundering tends to produce a swelling of the fabric band of the swab due to shrinkage of the band and the absorbent cords. It has also been found that, after laundering, it is somewhat difficult to dry completely the swab, and hence the fabric band, absorbent cords and stitching may mildew and begin to smell.

Moreover, due to the necessity of sewing the fabric band to the absorbent cords, the manufacturing process is considerably complicated, as a certain amount of skill is required to successfully operate sewing machines for this purpose.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a novel mop construction in which the aforenoted fabric band and stitching are eliminated.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved mop construction in which the mop cords are secured at the mid-section of the swab by a band of elastomeric material.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following more detailed description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features here inafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspectiveview illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cutaway perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a mop swab connected to a handle; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating one form of the method of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a mop swab is represented generally by the numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a plurality of absorbent mop cords 2 (the term cords is used herein generically to include similar materials such as yarns, strands, etc.) which extend substantially parallel to one another. The cords are secured in a generally bunched relationship substantially centrally of the length of the swab by a band 3 of elastomeric material which surrounds the cords and is adhered thereto, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

The elastomeric material which forms the band 3 may be a rubber compounded with sulfur or other vulcanizing agent and/or any of the other usual additives such as accelerators, extenders, anti-oxidants, softeners, etc. Other elastomeric materials may also be used so long as they are capable of adhering to the absorbent cords. Examples of such materials include latex, synthetic rubber and rubber substitutes such as butadiene or butadienestyrene copolymers. Such an elastomeric material is, of course, available commercially, examples being the product sold by General Chemical Co. under the trade designation Compound 1-8-1 184 and by Stalwart Rubber Co. under the designation Compound 1648. When the elastomeric material is a rubber, it will be secured to the absorbent cords by a heat treatment, as described hereinafter.

In FIG. 3, a slightly modified form of the present invention is illustrated. The swab 10 includes a plurality of absorbent cords ll-which are secured in a generally bunched relationship at the mid-section of the swab by a band 12 of elastomeric material. In this embodiment, the band 12 has an inner surface 13 of rubber or other elastomeric material as in the FIGS. 1 and 2 form, but also includes a protective fabric covering 14 adhered to the elastomeric surface. It will, of course, be appreciated that such inner surface can be a lining of rubber or a rubber or other elastomeric based adhesive applied as a coating to the fabric covering; 14.

In FIG. 4, a further embodiment is shown in which the elastomeric band 15 includes an open mesh cotton batting l6, saturated with an elastomeric compound, wrapped around the absorbent cords 17, and covered with a nylon or cotton scrim 18 which is adhered thereto. The band thus formed is compressed into the mop and may thereafter be subjected to a heat treatment as will be explained hereinafter.

In FIG. 5, the swab 20 is shown connected to a handle 21 by a clamp-type holder 22. It will also be understood, however, that other suitable connecting means can be employed to secure the swab to a handle. One example of a particularly suitable attachment device is that illustrated and described in co-pending application Ser. No. 744,851 of Theron V. Moss et al, now abandoned. In this embodiment, means 23 are shown, in the form of a relatively narrow tape, adjacent the end of the swab to secure the end portions of the cords together.

Referring now to FIG. 6, one method of forming the mop swab of this invention is schematically illustrated. An assemblage 25 of absorbent mop cords is positioned on a support 26 such as a table, conveyor, etc. An elastomeric material 27 is then applied to the assemblage substantially centrally of its length, and heat is then applied by heating apparatus 28 which includes heating elements 29 and 30 positioned on opposite sides of the elastomeric material to provide a uniform application of heat to cause the elastomeric material to flow and to be adhered to the absorbent cords. The elastomeric material 27 is shown in the form of two strips of such material on opposite sides of the assemblage of absorbent cords, and these are, of course, united by the heat treatment. It will also be appreciated, however, that a circular band of such material can be used to produce the same results.

The heat treatment will be a vulcanization process when the elastomeric material is a rubber, as is well known by those skilled in the rubber industry. Such process involves oxidation of the rubber which has been compounded with sulfur or other vulcanizing agents when heated to a temperature of from about 1 to about 140C. Such heating produces a gradual change in the rubber from a tacky, plastic material to a non-tacky elastic product.

Since the heat treatment thus may involve significantly high temperatures, it may be necessary to protect the absorbent cords to avoid burning or charring. This may be done by applying a Teflon or other such plastic sheet or sleeve over the cords prior to heating.

When the elastomeric material is a latex, it will generally be obtained in liquid form and can be applied to the absorbent cords by rollers, spraying, brushing, etc. after which it will be compressed into the mop and solidified to form the elastomeric band adhered to the cords. The solidification of such material may be achieved by air drying or drying in an oven at a temperature of from about 100F to about 150F or I75F depending, of course, upon the particular latex and its requirements.

Many materials are suitable for use as the absorbent cords of this invention including rayon yarn or cord, blends of rayon and cotton or rayon, cotton and nylon. Bleached hemp yarn or cord blended with a small percentage of braided nylon, or other synthetic plastic strands currently available such as orlon and dacron,

may also be used, or alternatively, cotton cord may be utilized.

It will be appreciated that the mop swab of this invention has distinct advantages over those previously known since a fabric band as such is not used and hence the aforenoted problems of swelling and mildewing have been avoided. Additionally, the elasticity of the band used in the present invention permits a more secure and easier and faster attachment of the swab to a mop handle.

The mop constructions of this invention may also include certain other features which have been found to be particularly advantageous in the construction of mops, such as the features illustrated and described in my U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,825,915, 3,011,198 and 3,1 15,658. In this regard, reference may also be made to my co-pencling application, Ser. No. 702,262, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,017, granted July 14, 1970 entitled Mop Construction," for features which are highly advantageous in mops of the type used for mopping floors and the like.

I claim:

1. A mop swab comprising a plurality of absorbent cords and means securing said cords in a generally bunched relationship substantially centrally of the length thereof, said means securing said cords comprising a band of elastomeric material surrounding said cords and interposed in and about said cords adhered securely thereto, said band of elastomeric material comprising an open mesh batting saturated with an elastomeric compound.

2. The mop swab of claim 1 further comprising a scrim secured to the outer surface of said open mesh batting. 

1. A mop swab comprising a plurality of absorbent cords and means securing said cords in a generally bunched relationship substantially centrally of the length thereof, said means securing said cords comprising a band of elastomeric material surrounding said cords and interposed in and about said cords adhered securely thereto, said band of elastomeric material comprising an open mesh batting saturated with an elastomeric compound.
 2. The mop swab of claim 1 further comprising a scrim secured to the outer surface of said open mesh batting. 